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Home » Recipes » air fryer » Air Fryer Crab Cakes

March 16, 2022

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

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Air Fryer Crab Cakes | Foodtastic Mom #airfryerrecipes #airfryercrabcakes #crabcakes via @foodtasticmom

Air Fryer Crab Cakes combine lump crab with just a few ingredients, including a whipped egg white, for absolutely perfect crab cakes.

air fryer crab cakes plated with fresh lemons and crackers
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I researched this recipe quite a bit. I even made a chart, comparing and contrasting ingredients. Lump crab is the gold standard. I view crab cakes as something to make for a special occasion. So find the best lump crab meat that you can find. And if you’re going to spend some money, you want the crab to really shine. The filler and fillings are minimal in the best crab cakes, but the combination is important. Crushed crackers are the best choice, instead of bread crumbs.

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getting ready to take a bite of air fryer crab cakes

Whipping the egg white to a cloud-like froth (similar to a meringue) really helps to bind everything together. And also helps to make the crab cakes less dense. I think the best thing though is how perfectly the air fryer cooks crab cakes. The constant hot air circulation makes a beautifully browned crust, without the need to add extra oil or butter for frying. I know for a fact that this is how I’ll be enjoying my crab cakes from now on!

taking a bite of air fryer crab cake after being dipped in lemon mayonnaise sauce

Ingredients for Air Fryer Crab Cakes

  • Jumbo Lump Crab Meat – or back fin lump crab meat if you can’t find jumbo.
  • Cracker Crumbs – saltines are a good choice but this is the brand that I used for testing this recipe.
  • Fresh Parsley – I like buying this brand because the chopping is already done for me.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice
  • Harissa Seasoning – this is one the ways I made this recipe unique to me, I just love the flavor of Harissa combined with the crab. You can substitute Old Bay seasoning if you prefer.
  • Worcestershire Sauce
  • Yellow Mustard – Dijon Mustard is usually suggested in crab cake recipes, but I usually have yellow mustard in my refrigerator, so that is what I used, and I loved it.
  • Egg – this is important – separate the egg and beat the egg white vigorously for 1 – 2 minutes to make it frothy, like a meringue.
  • Melted Butter
  • Salt

frothy whipped egg whites for air fryer crab cakes

How to make Air Fryer Crab Cakes

  1. Open the can of crab and put it in a large bowl, fluffing it up with a fork.
  2. Add the cracker crumbs and use a fork or spatula to stir together the crab and crackers until well combined.
  3. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, egg yolk, parsley, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, melted butter, Harissa and salt.
  4. Add this mixture to the crab and cracker mixture and mix gently until well-combined.
  5. Using a small whisk, vigorously whip the egg white for a minute or two until the white is filled with air and very frothy, similar to a meringue.
  6. Gently fold the whipped egg white into the crab mixture until combined.
  7. Use a large cookie scoop (about two scoops each) to evenly divide the crab mixture into six cakes.
  8. Place them on a plate and refrigerate the crab cakes for about 10 minutes to let them set up a bit.
  9. Place the crab cakes in the air fryer basket (my basket fit four at a time).
  10. Air fry the crab cakes at 375 degrees F for about 12 minutes, or until they are nicely browned.

crab cakes before and after being cooked in the air fryer

Kitchen Tips

  • I use a Philips XXL Air Fryer to test all of my recipes
  • This is the large cookie scoop I used to help form the crab cakes
  • For a simple sauce, whisk together a couple of tablespoons of mayonnaise with two teaspoons of lemon juice, a teaspoon of parsley and half a teaspoon of Harissa
  • Serve the crab cakes with corn chowder and a Caesar salad

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Air Fryer Crab Cakes | Foodtastic Mom #airfryerrecipes #airfryercrabcakes #crabcakes

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Air Fryer Crab Cakes | Foodtastic Mom #airfryerrecipes #airfryercrabcakes #crabcakes
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5 from 6 votes

Air Fryer Crab Cakes

Air Fryer Crab Cakes combine lump crab with just a few ingredients, including a whipped egg white, for absolutely perfect crab cakes.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes minutes
Servings 6
Calories 208kcal
Author Jill McOwen

Equipment

  • 1 Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 1 lb jumbo lump crab meat
  • 2/3 cup cracker crumbs
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1 1/2 tsp Harissa seasoning
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Open the can of crab and put it in a large bowl, fluffing it up with a fork.
  • Add the cracker crumbs and use a fork or spatula to stir together the crab and crackers until well combined.
  • In a smaller bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, egg yolk, parsley, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, melted butter, Harissa and salt. Add this mixture to the crab and cracker mixture and mix gently until well-combined.
  • Using a small whisk, vigorously whip the egg white for a minute or two until the white is filled with air and very frothy, similar to a meringue. Gently fold the whipped egg white into the crab mixture until combined.
  • Use a large cookie scoop (about two scoops each) to evenly divide the crab mixture into six cakes. Place them on a plate and refrigerate the crab cakes for about 10 minutes to let them set up a bit.
  • Place the crab cakes in the air fryer basket (my basket fit four at a time). Air fry the crab cakes at 375 degrees F for about 12 minutes, or until they are nicely browned. 

Nutrition

Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 934mg | Potassium: 201mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1mg

More Air Fryer Recipes

  • Bang Bang Shrimp
  • Air Fryer Lobster Tail
  • Homemade Fish Sticks
  • Air Fryer Salmon
  • Shrimp Tacos
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Found In: air fryer, seafood

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Holley says

    March 18, 2022 at 1:58 pm

    5 stars
    I love crab cakes! Super easy and yummy recipe!

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      March 22, 2022 at 1:00 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Tavo says

    March 18, 2022 at 3:02 pm

    5 stars
    Very yummy crab cakes, I loved that we could make them using an air-fryer!

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      March 22, 2022 at 1:00 pm

      The air fryer just makes cooking seafood seem so much less intimidating to me!

      Reply
  3. Sharon says

    March 18, 2022 at 3:03 pm

    5 stars
    These air fryer crab cakes come out so full of flavor on the inside, and nice and crispy on the outside. Great appetizers!

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      March 22, 2022 at 1:00 pm

      I served my leftovers with steak. They are perfect for appetizers!

      Reply
  4. Louise says

    March 18, 2022 at 3:38 pm

    5 stars
    The airfryer makes making crab cakes so easy! The twist with harissa is just insane. Love them.

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      March 22, 2022 at 12:59 pm

      I like to think outside the box with flavor. I’m glad you loved them!

      Reply
  5. Nathan says

    March 18, 2022 at 3:58 pm

    5 stars
    I love how easy it is to make these crab cakes in the air fryer, and such great flavors. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      March 22, 2022 at 12:58 pm

      I’m glad you enjoyed them. You’re welcome!

      Reply
  6. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

    February 7, 2023 at 3:45 am

    5 stars
    These turned out perfectly as a starter when we had friend over. I had to share the recipe! Crispy and delicious.

    Reply
    • foodtasticmom says

      February 7, 2023 at 2:47 pm

      Thanks for sharing the recipe with your friend. So glad you enjoyed the crab cakes!

      Reply

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My name is Jill and I share simple and delicious, family-friendly recipes. I want you to feel super in YOUR kitchen!

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